"This ten-jin koi..."
Liu Xilong held the cleaned fish and asked with a smile, "How should we cook it?"
"Let me handle it."
Lin Zhao took the koi, placed it on the chopping board, then began to score it. He marinated it with spices and soy sauce, then coated it with flour and lightly fried it. Finally, he added various seasonings, red chilies, and other ingredients to braise it. He did everything with great care and order. Lin Wanhua leaned against a chair not far away, her arms crossed, watching him.
The great sword immortal of Fusang Great Wall pondered many things. In truth, since childhood, he had only practiced swordplay and fighting, never truly cooked. He found these tedious tasks even more difficult than practicing the sword. Yet, under Lin Zhao's hands, these intricate processes were executed with such mastery. For a moment, Lin Wanhua's pretty face flushed slightly. In the future, would he cook and manage the household while she wielded her sword to slay enemies?
Qin Yu, who was tending the fire, glanced over from afar, sensing something unusual about his cousin Lin Wanhua today. Liu Xilong, while plucking vegetables, glared at Lin Wanhua. What was wrong with their City Lord today? The usual stern demeanor was replaced by a girlish charm. Over the past hundred years, countless young talents from mountain sects had pursued Lin Wanhua. Some, who were on the verge of reaching the fifth realm, had developed inner demons after witnessing Lin Wanhua's peerless swordplay and were likely to never reach the fifth realm in this lifetime. For years, Lin Wanhua had either politely refused or, in some cases, directly drawn her sword to confront those who pursued her. Therefore, seeing Lin Wanhua leaning against the chair with a slight smile on her lips made Liu Xilong feel as if he had seen a ghost.
Among the three, only Ye Lin immediately noticed the flush on Lin Wanhua's cheeks. A sigh escaped his lips. It was over. Their City Lord had likely fallen for Lin Zhao. What would happen then? Would they give the entire Fusang Great Wall as a dowry to Snow Domain Heavenly Lake? Or would Snow Domain Heavenly Lake and Fusang Great Wall form an alliance, a powerful union to resist the Four Northern Tribes?
Thinking about it, they were quite a well-matched pair.
Immediately, Ye Lin couldn't help but reveal a smile. All the devoted lovers in the world are kindred spirits!
...
A short while later, several substantial dishes were completed. Liu Xilong moved the dining table from Lin Wanhua's residence to the courtyard, set up a few chairs, and then served the dishes one by one. What Lin Zhao called "Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate" was actually a creatively braised carp. There was also pork belly braised with green garlic, served in a large basin – sword immortals of the world drink heartily and eat generously, so small portions wouldn't suffice. Additionally, there was a large basin of braised wild pheasant with potatoes, its fragrant aroma irresistible. A few stir-fried seasonal vegetables completed the spread, making it quite a sumptuous feast.
"Let's eat and drink!"
Lin Zhao laughed heartily and took out a jar of peach blossom wine from his pack, along with a large pile of cheap local wine, each small pot weighing 10g. Initially, everyone enjoyed the peach blossom wine immensely. After finishing the jar, they moved on to the cheap local wine. The first sip stunned Qin Yu, Liu Xilong, and Ye Lin. What kind of roadside swill was this? It was truly undrinkable!
Lin Wanhua, however, was accustomed to it. She found this kind of wine quite refreshing and continued to drink it as usual. The others saw this and decided to join in, as long as they enjoyed themselves.
The group clinked glasses and drank until their faces were flushed.
"Lin Zhao ah."
Liu Xilong, his face red from drinking, said, "Earlier, when you passed by Fusang Great Wall a few times, why didn't you reveal yourself to us?"
"I was afraid you'd hold a grudge," Lin Zhao replied with a smile. "After all, you were all beaten by me back then. I was just a sword cultivator in the lower fifth realm. I was afraid you'd retaliate. You were all terrifying cultivators in the upper fifth realm. How could I dare challenge you?"
Qin Yu touched his forehead and smiled, "In your eyes, our upper fifth realm is probably nothing, right?"
"You can't say that," Lin Zhao said. "Fusang Great Wall guards the northern frontier of the human race, and it is the most important defense line. To me, every cultivator in the upper fifth realm at Fusang Great Wall is extremely precious."
"Lin Zhao ah..."
Ye Lin, a bit unsteady from drinking, said, "Actually, if you hadn't died back then, and hadn't undergone the 'bingjie' reincarnation, with your cultivation, your understanding of martial arts, and your talent, after a hundred years of tempering, you would have at least had the foundation of a martial artist in the twelfth realm, the Rebirth Realm."
His eyes reddened. "If you, Lin Zhao, had entered the Rebirth Realm, I believe you would have been far more formidable than Lu Fengxian's Rebirth Realm cultivator."
"It's all in the past," Lin Zhao pursed his lips. "Besides, there are no 'ifs' in this world. I truly died in battle back then, my War God's Gall even exploded."
Liu Xilong's nose twitched. "Back then, even if you killed me, I wouldn't have believed that the person who knocked me down with one punch possessed a War God's Gall! I said that punch was so powerful, how could it be the fist of a seventh-realm martial artist..."
"Alright."
Lin Wanhua raised her wine cup and smiled. "You are all in the upper fifth realm now. Why bring this up? Are you bullying Lin Zhao, who is only an eighth-realm Golden Core?"
Lin Zhao scratched his head. "Miss Lin, you mentioning it made me forget. I almost thought I was in the upper fifth realm too..."
"You will be," Lin Wanhua smiled, her dimples appearing. "This life, be a pure sword immortal and practice your sword diligently. Reaching the upper fifth realm will be as easy as flipping your hand."
"I'll take your kind words," Lin Zhao nodded and smiled lightly.
...
The group drank until the moon was high in the sky. Then, they sat on the parapet, gazing at the sky above Fusang Great Wall. Qin Yu and Liu Xilong chatted about some trivial matters from the past few years, and they teased Ye Lin, the philanderer. Ye Lin didn't get angry, laughing and joking about it being his innate divine ability, something he had to endure. After chatting for a long time, Qin Yu stood up and said, "I'm going home. Even if I'm drunk, if I'm any later, my wife will have something to say."
"Hurry back," Lin Wanhua said with a light smile. "Your wife is indeed quite formidable."
After Qin Yu left, Liu Xilong also cupped his fists and smiled, returning to the south city to resume his post. Ye Lin also bowed and left with Liu Xilong. For a moment, only Lin Zhao and Lin Wanhua remained on the courtyard wall. As Lin Zhao turned, he saw Lin Wanhua's face, flushed with drink. This peak twelfth-realm great sword immortal's tolerance for alcohol was truly... at the level of the lower fifth realm!
"Miss Lin."
Lin Zhao took out a thick stack of Zhaojian Talismans. "Let's get down to business. What would you like for a late-night snack? I can prepare it for you."
Lin Wanhua's dimples appeared as she smiled. "Boil some porridge. Any kind of porridge will do."
"Alright!" Lin Zhao said. "Are there any small rivers nearby? You get started, I'll go catch some fish and make you a fish fillet porridge."
"There's a river to the south."
"Okay."
Thus, Lin Zhao took out his fishing rod from his pack and flew away on his sword. Lin Wanhua sat by the window, her pretty face flushed, and began to nurture the sword qi on the Zhaojian Talismans one by one under the moonlight.
...
Southwest of Snow Domain Heavenly Lake, a dense forest permeated with ghostly aura stretched for a hundred li northwest of the Washing Sword River. This forested area was called Ghost Mist Forest. Legend had it that many years ago, it was a mass burial ground that often had hauntings at night, so it was declared a forbidden area by the human race. After the demon race moved south, this forest was completely abandoned. However, not long ago, the line of coffin bearers appeared in this Ghost Mist Forest, making the area restless once more. Human cultivators, martial artists, peddlers, and other travelers would generally bypass it after crossing the Washing Sword River.
"Rustle..."
Under the moonlight, a group of players, after a long journey, finally arrived at the Ghost Mist Forest. Leading the way was Ding Chunqiu, mounted on his horse with his sword. Behind him were over 400 players from the "All Evil" guild. Essentially, all players in the guild who were over level 100 were present.
"Damn it!"
A divine archer frowned as he looked at the surrounding environment. "It's so eerie here, it gives me the creeps. Our group is truly bold and daring, willing to do anything."
"Shut up!" Ding Chunqiu said sternly. "We are here this time to seek tutelage from the coffin bearer lineage. Everyone, be sincere. Perhaps we will also become ghost cultivators in the future. What is this little bit of ghostly aura?"
"Yes, Boss!" The group nodded in unison.
Ding Chunqiu led the way, and the group slowly entered the forest. After about ten minutes, the corpse qi grew heavier, making it difficult to tolerate. From the treetops, where one could see no end, came rustling sounds, and decaying leaves fell from time to time.
"There's something in the trees!" Ju Mo Zhi frowned.
"Everyone be careful!" Ding Chunqiu gritted his teeth and urged his horse forward a few steps. He clasped his hands in a salute towards the depths of the forest and said sternly, "This is Ding Chunqiu, a sword cultivator from the south. I wish to pledge allegiance to the ancestor of the coffin bearers. I hope the ancestor will grant my request! Ding Chunqiu and my brothers will be steadfast and loyal to the coffin bearer lineage and will never betray you. I implore the ancestor to see the truth!"
Suddenly, a figure descended from the sky. It was an elder carrying a coffin, a Nascent Soul stage ghost cultivator. He opened his bloody mouth and bit the neck of a level 104 berserker, madly siphoning his essence and blood. The character's health bar plummeted.
"Fuck!" someone yelled, about to retaliate.
"No fighting!" Ding Chunqiu suddenly spread his fingers and said in a low voice, "Since we are here to seek tutelage, we must have the rules and sincerity of disciples. No one is allowed to move. What's wrong with letting a senior ghost cultivator drink a little blood?"
...
"Very good..." A delicate yet chilling voice echoed from the depths of the forest. Soon after, with the sound of rustling footsteps, zombies began to emerge. They carried wooden poles on their shoulders, a total of sixteen bearers. Around them were ghost cultivators of the coffin bearer lineage. Seated in the sixteen-bearer sedan chair was a beautiful woman in a qipao, the ancestor of the coffin bearer lineage, Tan Xin.
"That's enough." Tan Xin gently raised her hand and pointed, smiling. "Elder Xu, just take a little bit of blood and flesh. There's no need to kill him. It's unnecessary."
"Yes!" The elder, who had been feeding on the berserker, leaped down, wiped his mouth, and said with a smile, "The taste of fresh blood and flesh... it has been too long!"
"Boss, Boss..." The level 104 berserker cried, terrified. "I... he just sucked away 20% of my experience points from this level, I almost de-leveled, I..."
"Alright, I understand." Ding Chunqiu dismounted and bowed respectfully to Tan Xin. "This is Ding Chunqiu, a sword cultivator from the south, leading my brothers. We wish to become your disciples, Ancestor!"
"Oh?" Tan Xin's lips curved into a faint smile. "You can become my disciples, but can you agree to the conditions? If you become my disciples, are you willing to use your own blood and flesh to nourish me and my refined corpses?"